
12-02-22: Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2022 Episode 237 | 23m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
Top Story: Cochise County Election Canvass
It's Friday and that means it's time for the journalists' roundtable. Joining us tonight for a look at the week's top stories are Laurie Roberts, Jen Fifield and Camryn Sanchez. Top stories this week are the Cochise County Canvass, Hamedeh Election Lawsuit Tossed, Lake Hit w/Sanctions over Lawsuit, GOP Wants Masters' Advice on Winning and Special Session on Education Spending Limit.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

12-02-22: Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2022 Episode 237 | 23m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
It's Friday and that means it's time for the journalists' roundtable. Joining us tonight for a look at the week's top stories are Laurie Roberts, Jen Fifield and Camryn Sanchez. Top stories this week are the Cochise County Canvass, Hamedeh Election Lawsuit Tossed, Lake Hit w/Sanctions over Lawsuit, GOP Wants Masters' Advice on Winning and Special Session on Education Spending Limit.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Ted: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE INCLUDING THE LATEST FALLOUT FROM THE ELECTION.
AND SKY HARBOR PREPARES FOR SUPER BOWL TRAFFIC.
IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE AND WE HAVE LAURIE ROBERTS AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES.
GOOD TO YOU HAVE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WELCOME.
JEN, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN COCHISE COUNTY.
GIVES US AN UPDATE.
>> I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE OR TWITTER SAID WE HAVE TO KNOW A DIFFERENT ARIZONA COUNTY THROUGH OR ELECTIONS AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING.
FIRST THE REPUBLICAN SUPERVISORS WERE PROTESTING THE HAND COUNT TRYING TO DO A FULL HAND COUNT AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, THEY MOVED TO TRY TO NOT CERTIFY THE ELECTION.
IT IS NOW CERTIFIED.
>> Ted: THEY SAID TO CANVAS THE ELECTION BY 5:00 AND, QUOTE, A CLEAR REQUIREMENT, DO IT.
>> YES, HE HAD VERY LITTLE PATIENCE FOR THEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T PRESENT ANY DEFENSE ANYWAY.
THE QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS, WHY WERE THEY TRYING TO DO THIS?
WHAT WAS THE POINT?
THIS WAS A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN COUNTY.
HAD THEY SUCCEEDED, THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD HAVE SUCCEEDED IS STRIPPING A REPUBLICAN OF A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THEY THOUGHT SOMEHOW THIS WOULD PREVENT THE STATE FROM CERTIFYING THE ELECTION RESULTS.
PERHAPS IT WAS A TEST FOR 2024, TO, YOU KNOW, THE FAKE ELECTORS 2.0 AND WE'LL TRY TO JUST TRY TO BLOCK CERTIFICATION AT THE BEGINNING.
>> Ted: THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AN ATTORNEY AND THE ATTORNEY WASN'T THERE.
FINALLY, IN THE MIDDLE DURING THE RECESS, THE ATTORNEY SUGGESTED THEY TAKE IT TO THE EASTERN ARIZONA DISTRICT COURT WHICH WOULD BE INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH THING.
>> IT COULD BE NO ONE WANTED TO TAKE THE HEAT OF REPRESENTING THIS SORT OF DOOMED-TO-FAILEST AND I THINK LAURIE HAS A POINT, IF THEY HAD SUCCEEDED IN NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REPUBLICAN VOTES WHO DIDN'T GET COUNTED, TECHNICALLY, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT SOMETHING ALLOWED.
IT'S MORE OF A POINT ABOUT THEM SHOWING THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH ELECTIONS IN GENERAL AND WANTING TO PROVE THEY'RE NOT ON BOARD WITH IT AND BEING FORCED LIKE MOHAVE COUNTY, WHICH IS WHAT THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SAID.
>> THIS IS A NARRATIVE THAT LAKE AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE PUSHING, THAT SOMEHOW THESE PEOPLE WERE FORCED TO CERTIFY THESE ELECTIONS OR ELSE THEY WERE THREATENED WITH JAIL AND THIS IS AMERICA.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN LAW THAT YOU MUST DO BY A DATE CERTAIN AND THAT'S WHAT THESE ARE.
AND WHEN PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THEM BEING THREATENED WITH JAIL, IT'S BECAUSE, IN FACT, IF YOU VIOLATE THE LAW, THE PENALTY CAN BE GOING TO JAIL.
IT'S NOT A THREAT BUT LIKE A PROMISE, DO YOUR JOB.
>> Ted: LIKE A CLASS 6 FELONY.
BUT JEN, WHAT DID THE MEMBERS OF THE BARRED DOWN BOARD DOWN THERE WANT DID THEY THINK THIS JUDGE WOULD SAY, OK?
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND LOOPHOLES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THIS IS A HOTBED FOR ELECTION ISSUES AND THE SKEPTICS ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO TRY TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTION RESULTS FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
THE FACT THAT THE JUDGE SAID WHAT EVERYONE EXPECTED HIM TO DO, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.
MAYBE THEY JUST WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
>> Ted: A 2-0 VOTE AND DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE VOTE.
>> AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS UNDER LAW WHEN YOU DON'T SHOW UP FOR A VOTE YOU'RE MANDATED TO TAKE.
>> Ted: WE'RE HEARING SECRETARY OF STATE, KATIE HOBBS, GOVERNOR ELECT, STILL SECRETARY OF STATE, SHE WANTS SUPERVISORS INVESTIGATED AND, PERHAPS, PROSECUTED FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOBS.
>> HER DIRECTOR SENT A LETTER TO OUTGOING ATTORNEY GENERAL BRNOVICH TO POTENTIALLY CHARGE THEM WITH CRIMES.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CRIMES REVOLVED, SOME LOWER-LEVEL FELONIES AND MISS I HEARD THE COCHISE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS LOOKING INTO THESE VIBES AND I HAVEN'T HEARD BRNOVICH IS DOING ANYTHING.
I ASSUME IT MIGHT HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF COCHISE COUNTY OR FARM THAT OUT.
BUT CERTAINLY, IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE THERE OUGHT TO BE A PENALTY WITH SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE LAW.
>> Ted: ESPECIALLY GUMMING UP THE WORKS WHERE THE ENTIRE ELECTION COULD NOT BE CERTIFIED IN TIME.
IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH MONDAY'S CERTIFICATION GOES ON AS SCHEDULED NOW, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL SHOW UP IS WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
AS LONG THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL BE ONTO RECOUNTS AND LAWSUITS.
>> Ted: THE REAL FUN.
BEFORE WE LEAVE, CAMERON, THE IDEA THIS IS A TEST CASE, ANYTHING LEARNED FROM THIS?
>> IT COULD BE, HERE WAS ME FIGHTING FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY AND I KNEW THAT, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T GOING TO BACK DOWN AND THEY FORCED ME ON PENALTY OF THE FELONY AND I WAS OUT THERE FOR YOU AND IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE MAKING A POINT.
IS THIS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR FUNDRAISING?
I'VE SEEN TWO FUNDRAISING EMAILS FROM THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THIS WEEK, THAT THEY'RE FORCING -- THAT KATIE HOBBS IS ACTING LIKE A TYRANT AND FORCING THIS TO GO ON AND PLEASE SEND MONEY TO FIGHT THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT KEEPS EVERYBODY RILED UP AND KEEPS THIS IN THE NEWS AND LEADS TO WHAT WILL COME INEVITABLY THIS TIME NEXT WEEK.
>> Ted: BEFORE WE GET TO THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK, AS WELL, ABLE HAMEDEH, HE HAD HIS LAWSUIT TOSSED.
>> TO THE SURPRISE OF NO ONE, OTHER THAN ABE, ALLEGING THAT THERE WERE NO MANY PROBLEMS THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED SO HE WAS ASKING A JUDGE EITHER TO BLOCK CERTIFICATION OR POSTPONE CERTIFICATION OF THE VOTE OR THE ALTERNATIVE, JUST NAME HIM ATTORNEY GENERAL.
BUT THE FLAW IN THE LAWSUIT WHICH IS SHOCKING FOR SOMEONE TO BE STATE'S ATTORNEY IS THAT UNDER STATE ELECTION LAW, YOU CAN'T FILE A CHALLENGE UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IS CERTIFIED, WHICH WOULD MEAN NEXT WEEK.
IN THE FIVE DAYS AFTER, THAT IS THE TIME AFTER YOU DISAGREE OR BRING FORT FORTH THE EVIDENCE.
HE HAD SEVERAL EXPERIENCED ELECTION'S ATTORNEYS WORKING FOR HIM.
SO IT MAKES NO SENSE.
>> Ted: THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN'T SUE THE OFFICIAL RESULTS WHEN THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL RESULTS.
>> LOOKING BACK AT 2020, I THINK ONE THING THAT PEOPLE WERE UPSET ABOUT WAS ONCE THE ELECTION WAS CERTIFIED AND THEY WANTED TO DO THE AUDIT OR HAND COUNT, THEY WERE TOLD IT'S FINAL AND DONE, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING NOW.
MAYBE THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SAYING WE'LL DO SOMETHING BEFORE THIS IS FINAL AND CERTIFIED THIS TIME.
>> Ted: DELAY THE PROCESS SO IF CERTIFICATION DOES COME, WE CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF X, Y AND Z.
>> IT COULD BE HE KNEW THE LAW AND WANTED TO SAY IT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE MY LAWSUIT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE THE CERTIFICATION, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE CANVASS IS COMPLETE.
>> Ted: BUT DID HE SAY THAT?
>> NO.
I WOULD ASSUME HE WOULD FILE AGAIN.
>> THE RNC WON'T BE ABLE TO JOIN HIM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A PARTY AND THEY WON'T HAVE ANY STANDING ONCE THIS IS DONE AND I WOULD THINK ANYONE WHO HAS GONE TO LAW SCHOOL AND HAS A FEW YEARS UNDER HIS BELT LEGALLY, NOT THAT HE HAS A LOT OF YEARS AND HAS BEEN OUT OF LAW SCHOOL FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, FIVE, I WOULD THINK, THOUGH, YOU WOULD KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE OFFICIAL RESULTS BEFORE YOU CAN CHALLENGE RESULTS.
THERE'S A PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED HERE AND I WOULD EXPECT SOMEONE TO BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO KNOW THAT PROCESS.
>> Ted: JEN, SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR WENT AFTER MARICOPA COUNTY AND LOST AND TOLD THE ATTORNEYS TO PAY UP.
WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?
>> GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, KARI LAKE, SAYING WE CAN'T USE OUR VOTING MACHINES, THEY'RE INSECURE AND THIS WAS EARLIER BEFORE THE PRIMARY AND THAT CASE WAS DISMISSED AND AGAINST THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND MARICOPA COUNTY SAYS WE THINK YOU SHOULD FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR FILING A FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT AND THEY ASKED THE JUDGE ISSUED SANCTIONS AND NOT TO THEM BUT THEIR LAWYERS.
>> Ted: WE DON'T KNOW SIGNIFICANT SANCTIONS.
BUT THE JUDGE'S ORDER WAS INTERESTING AND ONE OF THE QUOTES WAS IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THOSE FILING SIMILARLY BASELESS SUITS IN THE FUTURE.
THIS WAS A SCATHING ORDER.
>> IT WAS AND WE'RE SEEING THIS MORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE JUDGES ARE LOOKING AT THE ELECTION CLAIM COMING OUT AND THE MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING AND TRYING TO PUNISH THAT MORE THAN WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR ELECTIONS.
AND SO WE SAW THIS WITH THE DROP BOX WATCHERS, SAYING NEED TO CORRECT THIS INFORMATION, SAYING SANCTIONS FOR LAWYERS SAYING YOU CAN'T BE DOING THIS.
IT'S PUTTING OUR DEMOCRACY IN DOUBT.
>> Ted: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?
IS THIS ANOTHER LESSON TO BE LEARNED BY ALL SIDES IN TWO YEARS?
>> WELL, IT MIGHT DISCOURAGE ATTORNEYS FROM FILING LAWSUITS.
BUT IN TERMS OF THIS PERSON, WHAT DID YOU CALL HER, THE ONE THAT WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR?
>> I DON'T SEE WHY SHE WOULDN'T USE THAT RHETORIC ON HER OWN, IF SHE'S NOT PENALIZED.
>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY MENTIONING THE COUNTY STEPPED IN.
WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING AROUND IN THE COURTS, AND BASICALLY WHAT THE JUDGE IS SAYING, THIS IS BASELESS AND WRONG.
>> IF YOU BRING A LAWSUIT, YOU BETTER BACK IT UP OTHER THAN CHARGES THAT YOU SAY HAPPENED AND KARI LAKE IS SAYING THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM AN OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE TELLING ME I BETTER NOT FILE ANY ELECTION CHALLENGE THIS YEAR.
THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT THIS WAS.
THIS WAS SIMPLY SAYING, P YOU IF YOU COME TO COURT, YOU WON'T USE US AS A PROP FOR POLITICAL MET MOTIVATIONS.
EVEN IF YOU CAN'T PROVE IT, BUT IT HAS REAL EVIDENCE SO NOT AS HE SAID FALSELY PRESENTING FALSE NARRATIVES THAT BASELESSLY UNDERMINE TRUST IN ELECTIONS.
>> Ted: AT THE STATE CAPITOL, WE'RE SEEING COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS IN THE SENATE AND WENDY ROGERS.
IS THERE A LESSON LEARNED OR A STATEMENT FROM LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE?
>> WHY CHANGE THE MESSAGE?
THIS HAS BEEN THEIR ROUTE SO FAR AND I DON'T SEE IT TURNING ANY TIME SOON.
BUT YES, MAYBE THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, THAT WHEN YOU COME TO COURT, YOU NEED TO HAVE EVIDENCE.
THIS IS SIMILAR WITH ABE'S CUTE AND I WOULD HAVE VOTED AND THAT'S IMPORTANT IN A LAWSUIT BECAUSE HOW WILL YOU GET THE RULING THAT YOU WANT.
>> Ted: LAURIE, BACK TO YOU THAT THE COMMITTEE IS ASKING ABOUT A DOZEN REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THIS IS NOT A RED WAVE AND THEY DIDN'T QUITE GET THERE.
>> THIS WASN'T EVEN A RED RIPPLE.
>> Ted: HOW DO WE FIX THIS?
>> CLOSE TO A DOZEN OUTSIDE REPUBLICAN ADVISERS TO COME IN AND GIVE THEM ADVICE AS TO WHAT THE STRATEGY SHOULD BE FOR 2024.
HOW DO WE ATTRACT MINORITY VOTERS AND HOW DO WE ATTRACT WOMEN?
THE GROUPS AS A RESULT OF THEIR VOTES, WE LOST.
THEY'RE TURNING TO BLACK BLAKE MASTERS, THE GUY WHO PORTIONED FOR A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN AND CERTAINLY SAID THINGS OBJECTIONABLE TO MINORITY GROUPS INCLUDING HISPANICS AND ASKING HIM, HE, WHO LOST, PRETTY HUGELY TO GIVE THEM ADVICE ON WHAT DO WE DO TO BROADEN OUR APPEAL?
THAT TELLS ME THEY'RE NOT HEARING WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMERICA AT ALL.
>> Ted: IT SOUNDS LIKE -- MASTERS IN RESPONSE, POLITICAL REPORTING, THAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO MODERNIZE AND THAT'S WHAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO DO AND HE'S A TECHY KIND OF GUY.
>> HE THINKS THEY SHOULD GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT ON EARLY BALLOTS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO MODERNIZE.
JUST GO BACK TO THE OLD TIMES AND SAY CIRCA 2018, WHEN REPUBLICANS USED THE EARLY BALLOT SYSTEM TO BOOST THEIR TURNOUT, BUT THE REPUBLICANS OF TODAY HAVE CALLED INTO QUESTION WHETHER EARLY BALLOTS ARE REALLY A GOOD THING AND THEY URGED THEIR PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE EARLY THIS YEAR.
DEMOCRATS VOTED EARLY AND NOW MASTERS IS SAYING, YEAH, WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN EARLY BALLOTING.
>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE VOTE IS CONCERNED, MASTERS, AS FAR AS INDEPENDENT AND SUBURBAN WOMEN, HE DIDN'T DO ALL THAT WELL.
>> NO, AND WE'RE SEEN WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 HAPPENED TO THE CANDIDATES AGAIN, WHERE THEY REJECTED THE ELECTION, DENIALISM AND REJECTED THE TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATES AND SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A REFLEX NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED POLITICALLY BUT WITH THE VOTE AND IS THERE A STRATEGY OF TELLING PEOPLE THAT CERTAIN WAYS TO VOTE AREN'T SECURE?
WHAT DOES THAT DO WHEN THERE ARE ELECTION DAY PROBLEMS AND THEN THAT'S THE WAY YOU'VE TOLD YOUR VOTERS TO COME OUT AND VOTE FOR YOU?
>> Ted: YOU BROUGHT UP EARLY VOTING WHICH WAS A REPUBLICAN HALLMARK FOR YEARS.
>> DECADES.
>> Ted: AN IDEA FOR DECADES AND NOW PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO DO THIS.
DID WE SEE IN THE VOTE COUNT SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES?
IT WAS OBVIOUS THE DEMOCRATS CAME OUT EARLY AND WE SAW THE EARLY RESULTS AND REPUBLICAN'S DAY OF VOTING CAME BACK EARLY EXPECT LATEAND THE LATE RISE OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WILL CHANGE, DOES IT?
>> THE PROBLEMS WITH EARLY VOTING CEMENTED INTO SOME REPUBLICAN VOTER'S HEADS, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CORRECT THAT EASILY AND SAY TO THEM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS FIXED NOW AND YOU CAN DO THIS AGAIN.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD.
>> Ted: ANY MORE TO ADD?
>> IT WASN'T BROKEN TO BEGIN WITH.
THEY GOT MAD WHEN THE LINES WERE LONG AT THE POLLS.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T EXCUSE MARICOPA COUNTY FOR THEIR PROBLEMS.
THEY DID ABSOLUTELY HAVE PROBLEMS AND THEY NEEDED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, TELL US WHAT WENT WRONG AND FIX IT.
BUT YOU CAN'T SAY PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE THEY COULD GO TO OTHER POLLS IF THERE WERE LINES.
IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO ANOTHER POLL, THEY COULD PUT THEIR BALLOTS INTO A SECURED BOX AND ALL OF THOSE WERE COUNTED, THE COUNTY SAYS.
SO I DON'T SEE HOW -- YOU HELPED TO CREATE THE PARTY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
YOU HELPED TO CREATE THE PROBLEM BY TELLING PEOPLE, GO TO THE POLLS AND DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU'RE TOLD.
AND SO IF PEOPLE WALKED AWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S DIS-ENFRANCHISEMENT BUT THEY GOT FRUSTRATED AND GAVE UP.
>> Ted: CAMERON, I WANT TO GET TO THE SPENDING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ELECTIONS FOR THE WEEK.
I KEEP HEARING, LET'S GO FOR THE SESSION AND WE HAVE THE VOTES.
WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR ON ALL OF THIS?
HE HAS TO CALL IT.
>> HE WAS LEGISLATURELY AT THE ALICE MEETING AND WE DID CALL HIM.
I OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION.
IT WAS CJ HE WAS TALKING TO, BUT IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE WHAT WE HEARD, THIS WAS A LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION AND WE SPENT PART OF OUR WEEK WHIPPING VOTES, BUT COUNTING VOTES.
I CALLED MY SENATE REPUBLICANS AND I FOUND THAT, YEAH, THEY DO SEEMINGLY HAVE THE VOTES, AT LEAST IN THE SENATE AND I DON'T THINK WE HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE GET BACK TO US IN THE HOUSE.
BUT MICHELLE UDALL SAYS IT'S ENOUGH AND GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN RESPONSE TO THIS INFORMATION IS, OK, IT'S A LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION AND IT'S A CIRCULAR THING.
THE GOVERNOR HAS THE ABILITY TO CALL THE SPECIAL SESSION, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE DEMOCRATS, PROMPTEDPROMISED HE WOULD DO.
THERE'S LIMITED TIME TO CALL A LIMITED SESSION BECAUSE HE'S ON HIS WAY OUT AND THE SESSION STARTS THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY.
>> Ted: IS HE WAITING OR WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR THE LAST BIG HOORAH?
MY LAST THING WILL BE THIS TO SHOW I'M EDUCATION GOVERNOR?
>> I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, THIS IS SOMETHING -- RAISING THE SPENDING LIMIT IS SOMETHING THE DEMOCRATS WANT AND ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY WANT AND NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR AND A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.
SO IT'S A GREAT BARGAINING CHIP, RIGHT?
IT COULD BE SOMETHING HELPFUL TO LEAVE UNRESOLVED FOR THE REPUBLICANS INTO THE NEXT SESSION.
>> YOU KNOW WHO IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO, ARIZONA SCHOOL CHILDREN, NEARLY A MILLIONS OF THEM.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS BASICALLY, WHAT, 16%, 17% OF THE BUDGET, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT UNTIL YOU REALIZE THERE'S ONLY A FEW MONTHS TO MAKE THOSE CUTS AND YOU'RE TALKING LAYOFFS AND ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS AND MAYBE CLOSING SCHOOLS EARLY IF YOU DON'T DEAL WITH THIS NOW.
>> Ted: DOESN'T IT SEEM AS THOUGH THERE'S AN ARGUMENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND DO THIS WHEN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS?
>> MAYBE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO GO INTO A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IT COULD BE THE BARGAINING CHIP THING AND THERE WAS A HOLIDAY OR THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT OF TOWN.
IT COULD BE ANY REASON, BUT HE HAS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO CALL SPECIAL SESSION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HASN'T DONE IT.
I WONDER IF THE PUSH TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE NOW IS MAYBE, IN PART, AND ME SPECULATING BECAUSE OF THE SENATOR RACE AND THEY VOTED AGAINST RAISING THE AEL IN THE LAST SESSION.
SO IF IT DOSE THROUGH IN THE NORMAL PROCESS AS A BILL, IT'S POSSIBLE HE WOULDN'T HEAR IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE FEELS EITHER BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TEXT ME BACK.
>> Ted: I THINK SOME LAWMAKERS, ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS, NO REASON TO DO THIS NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ELECTED AND LET'S LET PEOPLE SPEAK THROUGH NEW REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS.
>> WELL, IT'S A PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, SO I WOULD SAY THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH IT.
GET IT OFF THE TABLE AND DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH OUR KIDS.
>> Ted: IS THAT THE MESSAGE, CAMERON?
IT SOUND LIKE SPEAKER BOWERS GOT IT.
>> THE SENATE COMMUNICATION'S COM'S PERSON SAID SHE KNOWS THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF THE SPECIAL SESSION.
I BELIEVE TEXTING.
>> Ted: AS FAR AS GETTING THE WHIPS INTO VOTES.
WE'LL END IT AND WE HAVE A LOT COVERED.
THANK YOU ALL.
THAT IS IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, ARIZONA STUDENTS DECORATE THE ARIZONA CHRISTMAS TREE ON DISPLAY IN WASHINGTON.
- Another powerful edition of Arizona Horizon.
That has been a part of the news and public affairs programming in the Grand Canyon state for as long as I can remember.
When I came to Arizona back in 1988 >> WHEN I CAME TO ARIZONA BACK IN 1918 1988 AS A YOUNG JOURNALIST, I WAS WATCHING MICHAEL GRANT AND NOW IT'S TED SIMONS AND TED IS ASKING THE QUESTIONS THAT ALL OF US WISH WE COULD ASK.
GETTING THE KINDS OF ANSWERS THAT ALL OF US WISH WE COULD GET.
IT IS POWERFUL NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIR'S PROGRAMMING COVERING IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE AT THE ARIZONA LEGISLATU

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